BC3 to honor retired secret service agent
BUTLER TWP — A Butler County Community College alumnus left his childhood home on Muntz Avenue to protect the world.
BC3 will honor his contributions Oct. 4 as one of the distinguished alumni.
Patrick Smith, 55, of Charlotte, N.C., is a U.S. Marshal of the Western District of North Carolina and a retired Secret Service agent.
When Smith graduated from Butler High School in 1971, he hadn't applied to any colleges.
"I really wasn't sure what I was going to do," he said.
So he went to his father and said he wanted to join the Marines. His father didn't like that idea and asked him to try college.
Studying criminology, Smith attended BC3 the next two years. At the same time, he took night classes through Indiana (Pa.) University.
He transferred to IUP and earned a degree in criminology.
Smith joined the Secret Service in 1976 and retired in 2006. During his time as a special agent, his assignments included Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton and both George H.W. and George W. Bush.
During his 30 years on the job, Smith traveled far and wide, and during the final years before his retirement, he was assigned to Vice President Dick Cheney.
Now, as a federal marshal appointed by President Bush, he is in charge of deputies in North Carolina, as well as courthouse security, witness protection and searches for fugitives.
Smith plans to return to Butler next month to accept his award.
Other recipients are:
• Dr. Kimberly Batty-Herbert ('79), dean of arts & sciences at South Florida Community College in Avon Park, Fla.
• Leonard "Lenny" Haney ('83), lead F/A-22 aircraft Flight Test Instrumentation Operations/Design Engineer at Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems in Marietta, Ga.
• Dr. Marlene Hassenfratz, ('98), physician-physiatrist at the University of Buffalo(N.Y.).
• Wayne Seibel ('74), retired police officer and current district court judge in Evans City.
The 2008 BC3 Distinguished Alumni will be recognized at the Oak Hills Legacy Dinner in Founders Hall on the main campus Oct. 4.
Reservations are due Friday.
